AMPS 2020 International Convention

Postponement of AMPS 2020 International Convention and reschedule to 24-26 September 2020 in Danbury, CT

Presidents Message:

As everyone knows the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is upon us worldwide. The E-Board recently met to discuss how this virus is impacting our upcoming AMPS 2020 International Convention, slated for 7-9 May 2020 in Camp Hill, PA. Pennsylvania’s Governor, along with many other federal and state leaders and leaders of other nations, have taken precautionary measures of cancelling events and gatherings over certain numbers to minimize the growth and spreading of this potentially fatal virus. As such, we can no longer hold the AMPS International Convention in May 2020.

However, rather than cancel the show for this year, the E-Board decided to postpone this year’s International Convention and move it to Danbury, CT from 24-26 September 2020.

This decision was made in consultation with the leadership members of AMPS Central Pennsylvania and the Northeast Military Modelers Association and will take the place of ArmorCon 2020. We will continue to monitor information provided by government officials and medical professionals and, if it becomes necessary, make a decision on whether we can continue with AMPS 2020 at Danbury, CT approximately 30 days before our scheduled event.

The Radisson Hotel Harrisburg will automatically cancel all individual reservations without penalty if these reservations were made using the convention code as advertised through the AMPS website. If you made reservations outside the AMPS room block, you would need to individually cancel those reservations. We will post reservation instructions for the Crown Plaza Danbury, CT on the AMPS website as soon as they are available.

In the next few days, we will be posting on the AMPS website and Facebook page the refund policy for registrants, vendors and sponsors. If for any reason you’re unable to attend AMPS 2020, we encourage you to consider attending AMPS 2021, 29 April – 1 May 2021 in Newport News, VA.

I wish to personally thank Peter Espada, Show Chair, his AMPS Central Pennsylvania show staff and the Northeast Military Modelers Association for their time and cooperation in rescheduling AMPS 2020.

In closing, I wish everyone and their families’ good health and encourage them to take appropriate safety precautions in regard to this virus. If, for any reason, you are unable to attend AMPS 2020, we encourage you to consider attending AMPS 2021, 29 April – 1 May 2021 in Newport News, VA. Nevertheless, we look forward to seeing everyone at the AMPS 2020 International Convention in Danbury, CT 24-26 September 2020.

Modeling Trees and Water for Dioramas by Georg Eyerman

3D Printing for Modelers by Mike Roof

Putting the "P" in AMPS with the NJ Militia Museum by Mike Del Vecchio

Saturday, Sep 26, 2020 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM - Seminar Room

Early Israeli Armor by Tom Gannon

Saturday, Sep 26, 2020 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM - Seminar Room

This Year's Show Theme

AMPS 2020 show theme Last Battles. We are defining this as any model, diorama, vignette, or figure representing a vehicle, scene, or combatant from the last year of any major conflict involving armor. Notice the words "major conflict" and "involving armor." Some conflicts are ongoing, and some are debatable as major conflicts, so to clear things up, these are the conflicts and their last years that are acceptable for the theme:

World War I - 1918

Spanish Civil War - 1939

World War II - 1945

Israeli War of Independence - 1949

Korean War- 1953

French Indo-China War-1954

Vietnam War (end of US troop involvement) - 1973

Gulf War - 1991

Bosnian War - 1995

Gaza War - 2009

Iraqi War (withdrawal of US Forces from cities)- 2009

This list represents enough eras to cover armor involved in quite a few last battles. Any battle that occurred in these conflicts in these years meets the criteria. If this is debated, the head judge will have the final say after conferring with the assistant chief judge(s) to determine eligibility for the show theme entry.

The modeler must provide documentation of the battle being represented from at least one source, and at least one photo of the vehicle(s) and/or figures (if used) from that battle being represented. The vehicles should have appropriate markings for the battle depicted.

I hope you have a great time building for this theme and we'll see you in Danbury, CT in 2020!

David Vickers AMPS Chief Judge

AMPS Judging Principles

AMPS created a unique system to both judge the model
and honor the modeler for artistic achievement and
historical accuracy. It is a peer evaluation and mentoring
and not a performance critique by experts.
The system groups modelers that have similar skill levels
and talents and rates the model in relation to the ability
of the modeler rather than against the work of another
modeler. The skill levels are Junior, Basic, Intermediate,
Advanced and Master.

Each model is reviewed and evaluated on its own
merits and never compared to another one. Established
criteria determine the scoring of the model and qualify
the modeler for Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. Each
model is judged by a team of judges that score the model
independently and the lowest score among the team is
dropped. Constructive feedback is provided that sets a
path to becoming a better, more skilled modeler.

Raffle Donors

Other Hotels

The show will be held in the Crowne Plaza Danbury Hotel, 18 Old Ridgebury Rd, Danbury, CT 06810. The hotel has lots of free parking in the back. If you want to book rooms at the special convention rate of $99 per night, click on this link. When you are on the Crown Plaza reservation page, enter your arrival and departure dates, the number of people and number of rooms, and click the "Book" button. You will then be able to choose either a single king or two double beds room.